Earring with oscillating ornament support



Dec. 1, 1959 E. I. WARDEN 2,914,928

EARRING WITH OSCILLATING ORNAMENT SUPPORT Filed March 18, '1957 United States Patent EARRING WITH OSCILLATING ORNAMENT SUPPORT Eunice I. Warden, Conception Junction, Mo. Application March 18, 1957, Serial No. 646,687 3 Claims. (Cl. 63-14) The instant invention relates to costume jewelry and more particularly to earrings.

It is an object of the invention to provide a support for an earring in a manner whereby the latter can be interchanged readily with an earring of difierent design complemental to a selection of a user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is so constructed and the parts thereof so co-operatively arranged with respect to each other that wearring will swing slightly on a pivot for displaying scintillating, iridescent colors of the stones thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is slightly expandable whereby, during use, the support for the earring will fit snugly on the ear of a given user.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a device for the above-described purposes which is so arranged that more than one ornament may be supported simultaneously with an earring.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which is so constructed that an earring attached thereto is prevented from defining a complete revolution on its pivot pin, during use, and in accordance with'a particular design displayed on the outward face of the earring.

And a yet further object of the invention is to provide a device which is so constructed that the major portions thereof can be formed by means of punch-press and die operations, whereby the cost of manufacture is comparatively low, and the retail price thereof is correspondingly economical.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of an earring support and an earring, certain portions of the latter being broken away.

Figure 2 is an edge view on an enlarged scale of the earring shown in Figure 1, together with certain portions of a suspending means therefor employed, portions of said suspending means being broken away.

Figure 3 depicts an upper end view of a half portion or receptacle of an earring attaching means employed.

Figrue 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale and looking in the direction of the arrowsjand showing certain portions of the suspending means for the earring broken away.

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 and looking in a direction opposite to the brokenline 4- 4 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 and showing the earring attached to a portion of its'suspending and detent means, a portion of said suspending means being broken away.

Figure 7 is a perspectivev view of a plate employed having convergent edges, together with certain detent means, and showing saidplatepivotally attached to a portion of the lower half portion of said suspending means.

' 2,914,a28 Patented Dec. 1, 1959 Figure 8 depicts a portion of the upper portion of said suspending means and showing an auxiliary ornament attaching means preferably employed.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety, and 12 indicates the upper hook-like portion or section of the suspending means of the instant device.

The lower half portion or section of said suspending means is indicated at 14. Said portions 12 and 14 are formed of comparatively thin, slightly resilient wire which can be gold plated or flesh-colored, as may be desired. The upper portion- 12 is provided with a loop .16 which telescopically receives therethrough the lower portion 14, and the latter likewise is provided with a loop 18 which encircles the Wire 12.

A spring'20 extends around the wires between the loops 16 and 18. The ends of the spring bear against said loops, and the said portions 12 and 14 are urged toward each other for assuring a snug fit to the ear of a given user.

As best shown in Figure 8, the upper wire or portion 7 12 has a terminal end'to which a ball 22 or the like is applied. An eye 24 is secured adjacent to the ball, and a flexible chain 26 is connected at one of its ends to said eye. The other end of the chain is connected to an auxiliary ornament such as or similar to the ornament indicated at 2 8 in Figure 1. Since the chain 26 is flexible, said auxiliary ornament will move slightly at times when the user moves her head during use.

The length of the member 12 between the eye 24 and said ball. or ornament 22 is intended to fit outwardly of the ear of a user, and it will be understood that, if desired, the ball 22 may be disposed closely adjacent to the eye 24 and said length dispensed with.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 5, that end of the wire 14 which is disposed downwardly during use is provided with a portion 30 disposed at approximately a right angle with respect to the main body portion 14 thereof. The

' length of the portion 30 is slightly greater than the thickness of the lobe of a users ear. The portion 30 is provided with a flared or splayed terminal end portion 32, best shown in Figures 4 and 5. The portion 30 extends through a plate 34 of a half portion of a locking device employed, whereby said plate 34 is pivotally and loosely mounted through an aperture 35 of said plate 34. The member 34 is free to pivot or swivel on its pivotal mounting and isprevented from defining a complete revolution by means of an upper detent 36 and a lower detent 38 which governs swinging movements of said plate.

The member 34 is formed by means of a punch-press and die operation, whereby the oppositely disposed side walls 40 and 42 are not only provided convergently disposed toward each other, but also the said detents are downwardly during use. During a swinging movement of the member 34, the detents 36 and 38 engage the adjacent sides of the member 14 respectively for preventing the member 34 from defining more than approximately a 100 of a circle, as may be selected for preventing the later-described earring from swinging unduly in a vertical direction during use, and at times when said earring is attached thereto.

The other half portion of the locking device includes a receptacle 44 and is best shown in Figure 3, being provided with oppositely disposed projecting portions 46 and 48 which are disposed convergently with respect to each other, complemental to the convergence of the side edges 40 and 42 of the plate 34 shown in Figure 7, said convergence being so arranged that the narrower end of the member 44 is disposed, during use, upwardly, and the wider end downwardly. The projecting portions 46 and 48 are not only disposed convergently with respect to each other but are also preferably bent or tipped slightly toward each other throughout the length of said portions 46 and 48 for gripping the edges of 40 and 42 of the plate 34 snugly.

As thus described, it will be understood that the member 44 may be readily attached to the member 34 by sliding said projecting portions 46 and 48 over said edges 40 and 42, respectively, for snug engagement, since said edges are disposed convergently and also said projecting portions.

Similarly, the members 34 and 44 may be readily detached from each other by a movement of said members away from each other for disengagement of the edges 40 and 42 from the edges 46 and 48, respectively.

For convenience of illustration, the several parts of the device are depicted comparatively thick, however it will be understood that such parts are comparatively thin.

The member 44 is provided with a medially disposed slot 49 which is preferably arcuate in plan, and as best shown in Figure 3, for reception therein of the splayed end 32 as best shown in Figure 4.

At times when a loose fit is desired between the side edges 40 and 42 of the member 34 and the projecting portions 46 and 48 of the member 44, the said slot 49 may be dispensed with. Also, said slot may be dispensed with at times when the splayed end 32 is countersunk into plate 34.

The earring preferably includes a metallic base 50 for securing rhinestones or colored stones thereto, if desired, and it will be understood that said stones may be directly attached to the member 44 at desired times. At times whenthe base 50 is employed, the latter may be'encrusted with the said rhinestones indicated at 52. It will be understood that colored stones which simulate jewels may be employed in lieu of the said rhinestones.

The rhinestones 52 may be attached to the member 50 by means of surrounding the rhinestones adjacent the edges thereof with a bezel 54 or may be attached by means of a suitable adhesive. The rhinestones may be arranged in any suitable fashion with respect to each other, and as shown in Figure 1, the lower stone is horizontally disposed during use and the other two stones 52 are disposed side by side as shown in said Figure 1. The bezel 54 may be formed integral with the base 50 or attached thereto by any suitable means.

Attached to said base 50 or to the plate 44 of the locking device as the case may be, a further ornamental pendant or a plurality thereof indicated at 58 is suitably attached to the ornament.

As thus described, it will-be understood that at times when the members 53 are employed, the latter will normally be suspended downwardly and the ornamental design approximately vertically resultant from the weight thereof.

design such as a butterfly or the like, in lieu of said tion resultant from the user shaking or moving her head, the detents 36 and 38 prevent the same.

It will be noted that should the earring generally indicated at 60 become lost, it may be readily replaced with another of the same design, and that the earring is free to quiver for displaying the said rhinestones, butterfly or other ornamental design during use.

The auxiliary ornament 28 may be similarly replaced by attaching it to a link of the chain 26. During use, the wires 12 and 14 are normally urged toward each other for providing a snug fit to the ear of a given user, whereby a comparatively heavy earring may be supported without discomfort to said user.

The arcuate portion of the wire12, during use, is disposed in and against the skin of the crotch between the helix of the ear and the users head, whereby the major portion of the Weight of a comparatively heavy ornament is carried comfortably by a user thereof.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplishthe functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy,

and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively At times when the earring includes a given rhinestones and the members 58, whereby it is not desired inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will find an important place in the art to whichit appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilledin the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangement of details and parts such as come withinthe purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to inactual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. An ear ornament comprising, two-wires slidably and telescopically joined together one of said wires having an end portion arcuate in plan for engagement with and over an upper portion of an ear of a user, the other wire having an offset end portion disposed at approximately a right angle thereto for engagement under the lobe of said ear, said right angle portion being provided with a splayed end; a plate pivotally mounted on said offset portion adjacent said splayed end, said plate being provided with oppositely disposed detents positioned to engage the sides of the wire having the offset portion thereon during turning movements of said plate, oppositely disposed edges of said plate being disposed convergently with respect to each other; a receptacle porvided with outwardly disposed projections, said projections being arranged convergently with respect to each other complemental to said side edges of the plate for readily joining the latter to said receptacle; and an ornament attached to said receptacle.

2. An ear ornament comprising a wire having an offset end portion disposed at approximately a right angle thereto, said portion being providedwith a splayed end, a plate pivotally mounted on said offset end portion adjacent said splayed end, said plate being provided with oppositely disposed detentsarranged to engage side surfaces of the wire from which the offset portion extends during turning movements of said plate for limiting said turning, oppositely disposed edges, of, said plate being disposed convergently with respect to each other; a receptacle provided with outwardly disposed projections arranged. convergently with respect to-each other and complemental with respect to said side edges of said plate for slidably joining the receptacle to said plate; an ornamental design carried by said receptacle adapted to be displayed adjacent the lobe of said ear; and resilient means for supporting the Weight of said ornament upon'the skin of a user between the crotch of the helix of said ear and said users head.

3. In an earring, the combination which comprises an arcuate wire support having a'hook-like upper'section designed to be positioned over the upper edge of the web of an ear, the lower end of the upper section having a rightangular position loop extended therefrom, an arcuate the lower end of the lower section of the support having an oifset portion extended substantially at a right angle to the body portion thereof, a vertically disposed plate having edges converging from the lower to the upper end pivotally mounted on the ofiset portion of the lower end of the lower section, a receptacle having projections on the edges positioned with the projections over the converging edges of the plate, the projections of the receptacle converging from the lower to the upper edge thereof to correspond with the edges of the-plate, and an ornament mounting base secured to said receptacle, the plate having vertically spaced detents extended therefrom and the detents being positioned in a vertical plane offset from the axis of the offset portion extended from the lower end of said lower section and positioned whereby the lower portion of said lower section extends between the detents whereby the lower portion of the lower section of the support is engaged by inner ends of the detents to limit turning movement of the ornament mounting on the support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 240,590 Hessels Apr. 26, 1881 435,354- Ciner Aug. 26, 1890 516,211 Levy Mar. 13, 1894 984,682 Lott Feb. 21, 1911 2,220,442 Foret Nov. 5, 1940 2,453,485 Axtell Nov. 9, 1948 2,472,893 Gerson June 14, 1949 2,733,578 Tucker Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 620,113 Germany July 4, 1934 44,313 France Oct. 1, 1934 (Addition to No. 755,650) 264,060 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1949 161,942 Australia Mar. 15, 1955 

